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redirect_from:
  - /apis-integrations
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# APIs & integrations

With a rich set of APIs, Cube can power and deliver data to all kinds of data
applications.

<Diagram src="https://ucarecdn.com/df9de86e-4829-4c9d-9882-0984fbd8c719/" />

[Data APIs](#data-apis) are used to run queries against the data model.
Despite using various transports and query formats, all data APIs share common
[querying concepts][ref-queries].

Also, there are [management APIs](#management-apis) to control Cube deployments
externally.

## Data APIs

A few rules of thumb to help you choose an API:

When implementing internal or self-serve [business intelligence][cube-issbi] use
case, pick the [SQL API][ref-sql-api] and [Semantic Layer Sync][ref-sls]. The
SQL API allows querying Cube with a Postgres-compatible [dialect of
SQL][ref-sql-syntax], either by writing queries manually or generating them with
BI tools.

To connect to Microsoft Excel, use the [MDX API][ref-mdx-api].

When implementing [embedded analytics][cube-ea] and [real-time
analytics][cube-rta] use cases, pick [REST API][ref-rest-api] or [GraphQL
API][ref-graphql-api]. Also, the [JavaScript SDK][ref-js-sdk] will simplify
integration with your front-end code. The REST API uses a [JSON-based query
format][ref-json-syntax], and the GraphQL API accepts [GraphQL
queries][ref-graphql-syntax].

For AI use cases, consider using the [AI API][ref-ai-api].

<ReferenceBox>

See this [GitHub issue](https://github.com/cube-js/cube/issues/1744#issuecomment-2291680777)
for an unofficial, community-maintained [client library for Python](https://github.com/mharrisb1/cube-http-client).

</ReferenceBox>

## Management APIs

In case you'd like Cube to work with data orchestration tools and let them push
changes from upstream data sources to Cube, explore the [Orchestration
API][ref-orchestration-api].

[cube-issbi]: https://cube.dev/use-cases/semantic-layer
[cube-ea]: https://cube.dev/use-cases/embedded-analytics
[cube-rta]: https://cube.dev/use-cases/real-time-analytics
[ref-queries]: /product/apis-integrations/queries
[ref-sql-api]: /product/apis-integrations/sql-api
[ref-rest-api]: /product/apis-integrations/rest-api
[ref-graphql-api]: /product/apis-integrations/graphql-api
[ref-mdx-api]: /product/apis-integrations/mdx-api
[ref-ai-api]: /product/apis-integrations/ai-api
[ref-orchestration-api]: /product/apis-integrations/orchestration-api
[ref-sls]: /product/apis-integrations/semantic-layer-sync
[ref-js-sdk]: /product/apis-integrations/javascript-sdk
[ref-sql-syntax]: /product/apis-integrations/sql-api#querying-fundamentals
[ref-json-syntax]: /product/apis-integrations/rest-api/query-format
[ref-graphql-syntax]: /product/apis-integrations/graphql-api#getting-started
